Nvidia Still Struggling to Meet Demand for Graphics Cards
17 Mar 2015 --- Jen-Hsun Huang, CEO of Nvidia Corp., gives a keynote presentation during the GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, California. Huang later unveiled the Titan X CPU operating with a GeForce GTX Titan X graphics card during the presentation. --- Image by © Kim Kulish/Corbis
If you’ve been patiently waiting to hear good news regarding graphics card pricing reverting back to the good old days, the days before the shadow of cryptocurrency plunged the market into darkness, then we have unfortunate news. Nvidia has basically reiterated that GPU supply is going to remain an issue for some time now.
Speaking to TechCrunch, CEO Jen Hsun Huang said he shares the frustration of gamers (and developers) who have not been able to get their hands on a GeForce GPU in the current climate.
“This still doesn’t change the fact that I’m frustrated so many developers and gamers around the world cannot get access to their GeForces,”
“I still wish that we can put more GPUs in the hands of gamers that want to play PUBG.”
Huang suggested a simple solution to the problem: “we have to build a whole lot more”. While that sounds simple, GPU manufacturers including AMD are struggling to keep the market satiated with enough graphics cards for everyone. The fault lies not with Nvidia or AMD’s ability to manufacture enough GPUs but it has to do with the fact that there is a global DRAM shortage.
Graphics cards use high-speed memories such as GDDR5 and HBM2, and since last year, there is an on-going worldwide shortage for DRAM and NAND modules which is not expected to go away anytime soon. As mobile manufacturers are producing more smartphones every year, everyone including AIB partners for GPUs are fighting to secure some allocation to produce graphics cards. Previously, Massdrop CEO explained the situation:
“Apple and Samsung are willing to pay more for this memory to make sure they get it first and all of it that they need. This has created a shortage of memory for the much smaller companies like MSI, Gigabyte, Asus, and EVGA to make graphics cards.”
With Nvidia expected to populate the market with next-generation graphics cards this year, we can hope fortunes turn in our favor by the time they release.
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